Step-By-Step Guide:

How To Create An SPF Record Effectively

SPF (Sender Policy Framework) records play a vital role in safeguarding your domain against email spoofing and ensuring proper delivery of your emails. Although creating an SPF record may appear challenging, this guide will provide you with a clear, step-by-step approach to simplify the process. Go through this link for more details.

What is an SPF Record?

An SPF record is a form of DNS (Domain Name System) entry that designates the mail servers authorized to send emails to your domain. This mechanism aids in thwarting spammers from sending illegitimate emails under your domain name, thereby enhancing email deliverability and lowering the likelihood of your messages being flagged as spam.

Step 1: Identify All Mail Servers Sending Emails on Behalf of Your Domain

The initial task in establishing an SPF record involves pinpointing every server that dispatches emails for your domain. This may encompass:

• The mail server of your web hosting service


• The email server used by your organization


• External email services such as marketing platforms like Mailchimp or customer relationship management (CRM) systems.

Why Is This Step Important?

Neglecting to add a valid mail server to your SPF record may result in emails from that server being classified as spam or even completely blocked. Consequently, it's essential to ensure that all approved mail servers are included in your list.

Step 2: Access Your Domain’s DNS Settings

After pinpointing the mail servers, the subsequent action is to navigate to your domain's DNS configurations. This process is usually carried out via your domain registrar or the service that hosts your DNS. If you're not certain how to proceed, you can adhere to these general guidelines:

• Access the dashboard of your domain registrar. 


• Navigate to the section for managing DNS settings. 


• Search for the feature that allows you to create a new DNS record.

Common DNS Providers

Among the well-known DNS service providers are:

1. GoDaddy


2. Cloudflare


3. Namecheap


4. Google Domains

Ensure you're familiar with your service provider, as the process for accessing DNS settings can vary between providers.

Step 3: Create the SPF Record

An SPF record functions as a type of TXT record within your DNS configuration. It generally appears in the following format:

v=spf1 include:mailserver.com ~all

Here’s an explanation of the significance of each component:

• v=spf1: This indicates the version of SPF being used.


• include:mailserver.com: This signifies that the approved email server is permitted to dispatch messages on behalf of your domain.


• ~all: This outlines the procedure for dealing with emails originating from unauthorized servers. In such instances, it denotes a soft fail, signifying that the email will be flagged as questionable but will not be completely denied.

Customizing Your SPF Record

The configuration of your SPF record may vary depending on how many mail servers you have in use. For instance:

• In the case that you operate several mail servers, your record could appear as follows:

v=spf1 include:mailserver1.com include:mailserver2.com ~all

• If you utilize a specialized email service such as Google Workspace or Office 365, it is essential to incorporate their servers:

v=spf1 include:_spf.google.com ~all

Make sure to include all required mail servers to prevent any problems with delivery.

Step 4: Publish the SPF Record

After you have prepared your SPF record, the next step is to make it live by incorporating it into your DNS configurations. To achieve this, you'll need to generate a new TXT record that includes the specified fields:

• Domain Name: Input your domain (for instance, example.com). 


• Record Type: Select TXT as the type of record. 


• Record Value: Insert your SPF record (for example, v=spf1 include:spf.google.com -all).

Once you save the modifications, your SPF record will be made live. Keep in mind that it might take several hours for DNS updates to fully take effect.

Step 5: Test Your SPF Record

There are several online tools available that can help you check the validity of your SPF record, including:

1. MXToolbox SPF Record Checker


2. Kitterman SPF Validator

These tools will inform you whether your SPF record is set up correctly or if any problems require attention.

Monitoring and Updating Your SPF Record

With changes to your email setup, it might be necessary to revise your SPF record. For instance, if you begin utilizing a different email service provider, you'll have to include their servers in your SPF configuration.